The 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial ended Tuesday, Feb. 18, with a victory — for the 21st time — for Riverside’s Poly High School.
The team, which portrayed the prosecution, defeated Riverside’s Notre Dame High School in the culmination of a month-long countywide competition in front of a federal judge at the Riverside Historic Courthouse in downtown.
Poly students pose for a photo after winning on their 21st mock trial championship at the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial competition at the Riverside Historic Courthouse. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Federal Judge Sunshine Sykes participates in the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Students at Riverside’s Poly High School on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, await the announcement of the winner of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Students from Riverside’s Poly High School celebrate after winning their 21st mock trial championship at the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial competition at the Riverside Historic Courthouse. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Jonathan Viene, left, a student at Riverside’s Poly High School, shows his medals Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, after being named best advocate. His school won the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Judge Sunshine Sykes talks to Notre Dame’s pretrial attorney Grace Mankin during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial competition at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Jonathan Viene, who serves as a prosecutor for Riverside’s Poly High School, speaks Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Jonathan Viene, a prosecutor for Riverside’s Poly High School, was named the best advocate after the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. His team won a 20th championship. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Sydney Smith, student at Riverside’s Poly High School playing a journalist, is sworn in as a witness by Notre Dame High School’s Jonathan Medrano, playing a bailiff, during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Notre Dame High School’s defense attorneys, from left, Natasha Singh, Sydney Cramer and Ana Sofia Ramirez confer as Madison Mendoza, playing the defendant, watches during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Madison Mendoza, a student at Riverside’s Notre Dame High School, plays defendant Logan Gold during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Xavier Felix, a student at Riverside’s Notre Dame High School, answers questions as a witness during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Aubrey Packer, a prosecutor for Riverside’s Poly High School, speaks during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Natasha Singh plays a defense attorney for Riverside’s Notre Dame High School during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Acacia Bernier, a student at Riverside’s Poly High School serving as court clerk, reminds an attorney of the remaining time Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, during the finals of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Samuel Beaumon, a student at Riverside’s Poly High School, testifies as a witness during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Aubrey Packer, a prosecutor for Riverside’s Poly High School, is seen during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Minh Lai, a student at Riverside’s Notre Dame High School, plays an expert witness during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Conner Julian, a student at Riverside’s Poly High School, answers questions from the witness stand during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial competition at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Jonathan Viene, a prosecutor for Riverside’s Poly High School, speaks during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Grace Mankin, a defense attorney for Riverside’s Notre Dame High School, speaks during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Isaac Julian, a prosecutor for Riverside’s Poly High School, gives his opening statement during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Sydney Cramer, a defense attorney for Riverside’s Notre Dame High School, questions a witness during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Ana Sofia Ramirez, a defense attorney for Riverside’s Notre Dame High School, is seen Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, during the finals of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial competition at the Riverside Historic Courthouse. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Jonathan Viene, a prosecutor for Riverside’s Poly High School, speaks Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025, during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Beckett Sullivan, a student at Riverside’s Poly High School portraying a witness, answers questions during the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial competition at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
Students from Riverside’s Poly High School celebrate after winning their 21st mock trial championship at the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial at the Riverside Historic Courthouse on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
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Poly students pose for a photo after winning on their 21st mock trial championship at the final round of the 43rd Annual Riverside County Mock Trial competition at the Riverside Historic Courthouse. on Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2025. (Photo by Milka Soko, Contributing Photographer)
In mock trial, students from across Riverside County argued cases in front of real judges, while being scored by practicing attorneys. Students filled courtroom roles such as attorneys, witnesses, clerks and bailiffs.
This year’s fictional trial, People v. Gold, was a kidnapping case. The prosecution focused on ligature marks, a positive drug test, motive, matching tire marks and incriminating statements from Logan Gold to build its case.
However, the defense argued that prosecutors could not use Gold’s involuntary statements because they could be considered self-incriminating — and a violation of Gold’s Fifth Amendment rights.
Poly will now represent Riverside County at the California Mock Trial Competition, set for March 14 through March 16 in Los Angeles.
The winner will advance to the National Mock Trial, scheduled for May 7 through May 10 in Phoenix.
It was the second consecutive county crown for the blue team and the 17th time a Redlands High team won the contest. Redlands High is also bound for state competition.
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